Clamp dagger cam release



p 3, 1953' G. E. STILWELL 2,651,035

CLAMP DAGGER CAM RELEASE Filed Sept. 25, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l iii 7% T I 77 60 /3/ I l mml w J- muimlln LL W GLf/V/V f. .YT/A my; F] INVENTOR.

Sept. 8, 1953 G. E. STILWELL CLAMP DAGGER CAM RELEASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1948 s p 1953 G. E. STILWELL 2,651,035

CLAMP DAGGER CAM RELEASE Filed Sept. 25, 1948 5 Sheetsi-Sheet s JLlUL l 66 [AW J" ran 14 JNVENTOR.

Arrozxvzr Sept. 8,1953 G. E. STILWELL 2,651,035

CLAMP DAGGER CAM RELEASE Filed Sept. 23, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

p 1953 G. E. STILWELL 2,651,035

CLAMP DAGGER CAM RELEASE Filed Sept. 25, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 F16. /0 FIG. 12.

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Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNI TED- STAT-EES QFTF CLAMPDAGGER CAMzRELEASE Glenn E. Stilwell, Riverside, Calif assignor-to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San. Jose, Calif.,.la corporation of Delaware Application September 23,1948, Serial No..50,729

12Clai'ms. (Chi-10) 1 This invention relates to dagger or wedge cams and is particularly useful in nailing machines.

Such machines are widely used for making crates and boxes of wood and the invention is disclosed herein as embodied in a'nailingmachime in which the-work is inserted, manipulated during the operations of themachine thereon,

and'remove'd by hand.

This particular type of nailing 'machine is I known as-a semi-automatic'crate maker. In it a complete box is made by a series of three consecutive nailing operations. The first nails one side on the box heads. The second nails on the bottom. The third nails onthe second'side. The

heads are automatically clamped in proper par- "allel spacedrelatiomduring each nailing operation, by dagger-cam-actuated clamps. During the intervals between the first and second operations and the second and thirdoperations the operator must rotate the work 90*" and insert additional box parts. During the interval between'the finishing of one box and the'starti ng of another, the operator must pullthe'first box out of the machine and insert the heads-and first side of thenext'box tube-made. Each of these intervals begins with the relaxing ofsaid'clamps for clamping the boxheads.

Itis an object of the present invention-taincrease the speed with which this type of machine can be operated by advancing themornent at which said clamps are relaxed following each nailing operation therebypermitting the operator an'earlier start in his manipulation'of the work; and consequently an earlier completion of suChrnani-pula-tion and-beginning of the next nailing operation.

The past practice has been to actuate'the' box head clamps as the nail drivers start'downward, and to relax said clamps when the drivers have "returned almost to thcir-npward'most position.

It is a further object of the invention toprovide adaggercam-release-which will operate to relax said cam during each nailing 'operation immediately after-the nails havebeen driven into the work, and approximately-asthe'naiI drivers are starting 11p from their lowermost position.

Yet anotherand broader objectofthe invention is to provide a cam' follower'releaser'mecha- 'nism'which will automatically releasethefollower of a' cam immediately uponla reversal of the directionsaid cam is moving relative to said follower.

The-manner of accomplishing the. .foregoing obj ectslas wellasfurtherobjects .and advantages will bemade manifest in'the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which:

Fig. "1 is a diagrammaticfront elevational view of an AC nailing machine equipped iorthe manufacture or" lug-boxes and in which apre- -ferred embodiment of the invention is incor- 'elevational View of-thoseelements of the 'machine shown iii-Fig.1 which are directly: involved in -abox nailing operation said 'maehine with said elements positionedas-they-are just before starting a box nailing operation and-with two box'heads and the'first side-already inserted: into the machine, the clamping means at thistime being" relaxed.

Fig-8 is a view similar to Fig. '7 and illustrates how the clamping means is actuated to clamp the box heads immediately upon "therinitiation of the downward movement of the nailing means.

Fig. 9"is-"a' view similar to'Fig. 8-and" illustrates the parts-of saidnailing machine as --these are located. at the instant of thedriving. of the nails into the work is completed.

Fig; 10 is a view similar to Fig; 9 landiil'lnstrates the relationship ,of the parts oithe machine just afterthe nailing. meansstarts upward andshows how the dagger cam. release mechanism of the inventionoperates to release .the clamp means .almost. immediately. following .the completion ..-of .the driving of the. nailsinto the work.

Fig. vl1. isan enlarged front elevational. viewof dagger cam. release mechanismoithe invention and asportion oithe daggerv camland. illustrates, in iull-lines,.the positionofthe cam follower of the invention when this isldisposed to transmit movement. from the cam tothe shiftable member rand. inbroken lines the. position ofuthe cam vfollower.whenit has been actuated to free the shiftable. member from. theactionofthe dagger cam thereby causing the clamp means to automatically release its grip on the box heads.

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line I2I2 of Fig. 11.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated therein comprises a box making machine 30 which includes a frame 3I, a drive mechanism 32, a nailing mechanism 33, and a work supporting and aligning mechanism 34.

The frame includes a base 35, side standards 36, a front top cross tie 31, a rear top cross tie 38, a front work table cross tie 39, and a rear work table cross tie 40.

The standards 36 have slide ways 4I. They also have clamp brackets 42 and 43 extending rearwardly therefrom (see Figs. 2 and 3), these brackets having bearings 44, 45, 46 and 41. Also provided on the base 35 is a short motor standard 48 having a bearing 49, and a motor platform 50.

The drive mechanism 32 includes a motor 55 mounted on the platform 50 which is connected .by a chain 55 to a clutch 51 mounted on a shaft (not shown) having a pinion (not shown) which meshes with a master gear 58 on a crank shaft 59 which journals in bearings 46 and 49. When the clutch is thrown in by depressing a foot pedal 00, the crank shaft 59 is rotated for a single revolution.

This shaft has a crank GI on the opposite end thereof from said master gear, pitmans 62 being pivotally connected to said crank and said master gear so as to be reciprocated by each rotation of the shaft 59.

Also mounted on the shaft 59 are chuck lifting cams 63 which are aligned with rollers 64 on rockers 05 fixed on a shaft 56 which journals in bearings E'I. Extending upwardly from rockers 65 are links 08. The functions of links 68 will be made clear hereinafter.

Shaft 59 also has a pinion 69 which meshes with a gear I0, the latter being mounted on a vertical shaft 1|, the function of which will be made clear hereinafter.

The nailing mechanism 33 includes a rectangular driver head I2 having studs I3 which extend outwardly through and slide in the slide ways 4|. The pitmans 62 have spring cushion units I4 at their upper ends which pivotally connect with the studs I3. Slideable in vertical holes provided in opposite ends of the head I2 are guide shafts T5, the lower ends of which are secured to a rectangular chuck mounting frame 11.

Carried on this frame is a pair of banks of nail chucks 80 which are supplied with nails in a manner well known in the art by nail tubes 8| .and a nail feeding mechanism (not shown).

Carried on the driver head I2 is a pair of banks of nail drivers 82 which slide vertically through the chucks 80 during each nailing operation to drive nails from these chucks into the work,

The work supporting and aligning mechanism 34 includes a pair of multiple anvils 85 which are automatically shifted laterally in a manner well known in the art by a cam mechanism 86 which is actuated by the shaft II with each revolution of the crank shaft 59 so as to place the anvils 85 in the proper positions for supporting the heads during the next nailing operation. Each of the anvils 85 includes a ledge 81 for supporting a box head during the first nailing operation; a ledge 88 for supporting said head during the second nailing operation; and a ledge 89 for supporting said head during the third nailing operation.

The mechanism 34 also includes a clamping device 90 which has a shaft 9| fixedly mounted in bearings 44 and 46, and a shaft 92 slideably mounted in bearings 45 and 4? (see Fig. 3). These shafts extend through rigid clamp arms 93 and 94 and spring clamp arms 95 and 96. The arms 93 and 96 are fixed to the shaft 9I and are slideable on the shaft 92. The arms 94 and 95 are fixed on the shaft 92 and are slideable relative to the shaft 9|.

The shaft 92 extends outwardly beyond the bearing 41 to receive a stiff coiled spring 97 and a collar 98 for retaining the same on said shaft. The opposite end of said shaft extends outwardly beyond the bearing 45 and has fixed thereon a base I90 of a cam release device IOI (see Figs. 5 and 6). The base I00 has a main bore I02 which snugly fits over the end of the shaft 92, and threaded holes I03 therein receive set screws I04 for securing the base I00 in .place.

The base I00 also has upstanding ears I05 which are bored to receive a pivot pin I05 on which is pivotally mounted a cam follower I01. This cam follower includes an arm IIO having a bore III parallel with the pin I06 and at the opposite end of the arm therefrom for receiving a roller pin II2 on the opposite ends of which are rotatably mounted follower rollers II 3. A stop screw H4 is received in a threaded hole which extends vertically through the arm IIO to permit this screw to bear against the base I00 and provide an adjustable stop which determines the down position of the follower W1. A stop nut II5 retains the screw I I4 in its adjusted position.

Adjustably fixed by cap screws I20 on the driver head I2 (see Figs. 1 and 2) is a dagger cam I2I, the lower end of which has an elongated eye I22 through which the shaft 92 extends and on opposite sides of which the cam I2I is provided with cam faces I 23. For the most part, the cam faces I23 are parallel with the direction of travel of the cam I2I but near their lower ends these faces are provided with shoulders I 24. The cam I2I extends between the bearing 45 and the cam release device IOI with the shoulders I24 directly above and almost in contact with the rollers I I3 when the machine 30 is in its normal position of rest.

Near the upper end of the eye I22, the dagger cam I2I is provided with a control lug I25, the function of which will be made clear hereinafter.

Clamped onto the shaft 9| is a side and bottom shook support I30.

The links 68 pivotally connect at their upper ends with clevises I3I provided on the chuck mounting frame I? so that the vertical movement of this frame and the chucks 80 is controlledduring the nailing operation through the links 68 by the cams 63.

The rigid clamp arms 93 and 94 have vertically yieldable flushers I35 provided thereon.

Operation B The cam release device IOI of the invention operates in identically the same way during each of the three nailing operations required in the manufacture of a box. The operation of this device therefore will be adequately disclosed by a description of the first of the nailing operations.

This begins with the parts of the machine 30 positioned as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7. To

mangoes pre are ear the first operation, the operator places box heads 'H tl-ie fnachiri'e "shown in fi' 'igs. 3 arid '7 an'd inserts the fi-rst side -'S of a box o'tlie ma'chine sfo that this rests with its "end-s rlyin g the box heads and with its rear edge as back gain'st "suitable steps provided on t *sho'ok support I 30. The anvils 85 are automatically located at this timeso thatthe ledges $5 1 an iii s'iippdrtfiig relation with the 'box heads .j in nrgv.

The ct rat-te net; presses his rode-upon the peat cc, thus tiirdwi rig an the clutch s1 and causing assign-retent on 6f the crank shaft '59. This causes a downward upward reciprocaiie irai-iin inecriahisin as by the pitma-ns rsiil't hi this in the "operation of the cam i ele'a'siiig device i! *is "well illustrated in *tig 'aa, vxaejioane 11.

with tlie deviee "NH and dagger cam i2! reated at the "beginning er the nailing operation as hdvh in Fig. l, it'willbefseen that the initial eownwar'd'aovemem or thedag'gercam with the ii alil tlf'iv e'r had n brings the shoulders 124 of 't afififhds "r23 against the rollers i Hand, in view of the screw l'l i preventing downward -itRiveir'ierit of the arm ll-0 beyond a horizontal positicnthecevice m i an'd'the shaft 92 on which "thisis fixed are sliiftedft'o move the rollers us tiutwa'rdly tvhre they rest against the vertical portifi nsdif the faces I23 during the balance of the downward movement of the dagger cam l2 l.

The outward movement or the device it! effected the'cam shoulders E24 operates the clamp device 90 -"as shown in Figs. 4 and 8 to clamp the box' heads 'H incorrect parallel, spaced relation for uniting these'in theboxto be made "*in'themach-ine -3'0. Thisclamping action shifts tlie'vertic'ally-yieldabie fiushers Hi together to properly align the end portions of the first side 's' with the heads Has shown in Fig. 8. Conftinued downward' movement of thenailing mechanism brings thechucks 86 into contact with the flushers F35, depressing the lat-teras-shown in *Fig. '9 and placing-the chucks indirect contact with the end portions of the side S. lfhe nail drivers '82 now continue downwardly through chucks'Bi! "to-drive nails therefrom through the ends of the side S and into the heads H, The completion of this driving of the nails is effected with the "driving mechanism in its lowermost position in which it is shown in Figs. 9 and 11 wherein the'lug I is brought down into contact with the rollers I I 3 of the device ml.

As the "nailing mechanism starts" upward from its lowermost position, justdescribed, the roll'rs H3 carriedfby the arm H9 move up\ -iardly"-with j tl'ie daggeresm I2 I said roll'ersrmainirig in conf taict with the lug I25 untilthe clamp device 98 lists ben'completely released froz'n theactio'n of the cam I2! and has relaxed its grip upon the box heads H as shown in Fig. 3. This action is completed by the time the device llll has reached the broken line position in which it is shown in Fig. 11.

The principal function of the lug I25 is to prevent the clamp device 90 being released too quickly with a snap action which is noisy and harmful to the machine. This lug requires the device llll to gradually release the clamp device 90 so as to cause the machine to operate smoothly. Nevertheless, the device Hll results in such an early release of the clamp device as to enable the operator to substantially increase his production with the machine 30.

When the dagger cam I21 arrives in its uppermost position as the nailing machine comes to rest at the conclusion 'of the single nailing operation just described, the shoulders 124 are disposed jnst f-a-r'enough above the device IO'I wipermit the follower 10 1 to rock downward by gravity into the horizontal operative position in which it is shown in Figs. 1, '2, 5 andfi, andin the run line representation-thereof in 'Fig. 1 1.

What I claim-is: -1. In a nailing machine the combination of: work clamp means; hailing means; means causing reciprocatdry relative movement between said two means and inducing an apprdach phase for the driving of nails from said nailing means into said were, and -a return phase 001i(Ehding with said 'two means in 'spaced relation; means causing said clamp m'eairs to clamp the work to pr'oper-1y position the "same -"for-said nailing operation, s'aid clam' 'c'ing taking "place in response to an inma portion of *said approach-phase of *said'm'ov'eand means responsive to and operative eurrng an initial porac'ncr said return phase or "said movement "for relaxing said clamping rri'ea-'nls *to'unc'lampthe work.

*2. -A combination as in claiin 1 in which said clampactua'tihgineanscoinprisesa cam and cam folldwer operatedby said relative movement, "and inwhi'dhsaidclanip relaxing means comprises a induritin'g for said ca'rn fo'llower which transmits tb said eia'mp ihe'ans fndtioh received 'bysaid f'ollb'w'er hem said cam an s'aid apprcach p'hasecf said relative movement; and means =shiftably connecting said fcllower with 'said mounting to cause said follower to beshif-ted with respect to *said mountin by said cam upon the reversal in direction of said mevement thereby freeing said mounting from con'straint bysaidcain and relaxing s'aid cia-mp means.

3. -'-In 'a nailing inachine, the combination of -anvil t'rr ea'ns "for su porting 'a-pai'rof box heads; me'aiis for coordinately clamping said heads in proper -parallel spaced'relation for the nailing of *si'des and a bottom thereon to formabox; a nailing means mounted "above the work thus supiport'ed and clamped; means for reciprocating *said "nailing means downwardly and upwardly tonail said-sides and'bnttom on said box'h'ead; a dagger cain provi'dedon said nailing means and 'rec-iprocating therewith during each nailing operation; a shiftable member :provided on said clamp means -eand-responsive "to an initial down- 'ward portion o'f the movement ofsaid dagger cam with said nailing =means to cause said clamp means '-to clamp said heads as aforesaid; and means responsive to said nailing means starting upwardly immediately following the completion 'cf the driving of--the nails into the work for auto- -matically releasing said shifta-ble member-from the action of said dagger cam, whereby said -clamp=means-relaxes its hold on-said box heads.

4. recombination as in claim 3 in which said releasingmeans comprises a cam follower pivotally mounted on said shiftable member; and a stop for limiting the downward swinging of said follower about its pivot to bring the line of contact between said follower and said cam into intersecting relation with a line passing through said pivotal axis and normal with the path of movement of said dagger cam.

5. In a nailing machine, the combination of: a work support; a nailing device spaced therefrom; means for causing relative movement between said device and said support to drive nails in said work, said movement being divided into approach and return phases; means on said work support for clamping said work including an actuating shaft lying perpendicular to the direction of the aforesaid movement; a cam release device on said shaft; a dagger cam carried by said nailing device and moving between said work support and said device during said approach phase to shift said device and said shaft and actuate said clamp means to clamp said work in proper alignment for receiving said nails; and an arm pivotally mounted on said device and extending from its axis toward said cam, whereby said arm is engaged by said cam during said approach phase to transmit movement to said device to actuate said clamp means, said cam operating through its engagement with said arm at the beginning of said return phase to swing said arm about said axis to relax said clamp means and release said work therefrom.

6. A combination as in claim in which said cam follower arm carries rollers on the end thereof, said rollers engaging said cam; and a stop on said device permitting said arm to swing slightly past dead center in the direction which said cam moves relative to said device during said approach phase, said arm being close enough to dead center, however, that the friction between said cam and said rollers during an initial portion of the return phase is sufiicient to rotate said arm past dead center in the opposite direction and away from said stop, thereby freeing said cam release device from constraint by said cam and causing said clamp means to release said work.

7. In a nailing machine, the combination of: work clamp means; nailing means; power means causing reciprocatory relative movement during each nailing cycle between said two means and including an approach phase for the driving of nails from said nailing means into said work, and a return phase concluding with said clamp means and nailing means in spaced relation; means responsive to the actuation of said power means to cause said work clamp means to clamp the work in proper position prior to the driving of nails therein by said nailing means; a member adapted to be moved in one direction by said power means during said approach phase and in the opposite direction during said return phase; and a device acted upon by said member and responsive to said movement of said member in said one direction to set said clamp means, said device being responsive to said reverse movement of said member, at the start of said return phase to relax said work clamp means, thereby releasing said work and freeing the same substantially throughout the return phase of said relative movement.

8. A combination as in claim '7 in which said member is a cam and said device includes a cam follower shiftably mounted thereon, the reversal of movement of said cam shifting said follower relative to said device thereby causing said device to shift relative to said cam whereby said device releases said clamp means.

9. A combination as in claim 8 in which a control lug is provided on said cam which engages and regulates the speed of shifting of said cam follower relative to said device to prevent too rapid, noisy action by said device in releasing said clamp means.

10. In a nailing machine, the combination of: work clamp means; nailing means; power means causing reciprocatory relative movement during each nailing cycle between said two aforesaid means, said movement in each of said cycles including an approach phase for the driving of nails from said nailing means into said work, and a return phase concluding with said clamp means and nailing means in spaced relation; a dagger cam mounted on said nailing means; a cam release device connected to said work clamp means, reciprocatory relative movement between said cam and device to cause the actuation of said clamp means being produced by said relative movement between said work clamp means and nailing means; a cam follower arm pivotally mounted on said device; and a stop on said device for halting rotation of said arm thereon in a position in which said arm is engaged by said dagger cam to shift said device to actuate said work clamp means to clamp the work in proper position for the driving of nails therein by said nailing means, said position of said arm being such that the frictional engagement between said arm and said cam, upon the reversal of said relative movement between said cam and said arm, causes said arm to rotate about its pivotal connection with said device, thereby releasing said device from pressure from said cam thereby relaxing said clamp means from clamping relation with said work.

11. A combination as in claim 10 in which roller means is provided on the extremity of said am for engagement with said cam to reduce the friction between said arm and said cam.

12. A combination as in claim 11 in which a control lug is provided on said cam so as to move away from said device as said arm rotates relative to said device, said lug being in a position to block and control said rotation of said arm.

GLENN E. STILWELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,007,234 Parker Oct, 31, 1911 1,577,498 Spinney Mar. 23, 1926 1,890,586 Parker Dec. 13, 1932 2,451,905 Bentley Oct. 19, 1948 

